ATHENS, Ohio - Sophomore right-hander Kevin Mementowski threw five scoreless innings in his season debut and picked up the victory in Ohio's fourth straight win, a 9-5 defeat of Cleveland State Tuesday at Bob Wren Stadium.

"It was big to keep the win streak going and get the fourth in a row," Mementowski said. "It was big getting out of the first and getting that zero on the board. We're all pretty excited."

The Bobcats (4-5) have now won four consecutive games after starting the season on a five-game skid. Ohio finished with nine runs on 11 hits and committed four errors in the win. Cleveland State (2-7) has now dropped five straight games and posted five runs on eight hits with three errors in the contest.

Mementowski (Parma, Ohio) moved to 1-0 with the win and finished with five innings pitched, three hits, two strikeouts, and a walk in his season debut. It was the first start of his Bobcat career after making eight relief appearances last year in his freshman season.

"We've very proud of Kevin," Head Coach Joe Carbone said. "He has worked hard. We gave him the game ball today. It was a great job by Kevin."

Sophomore Adam Goodpasture (Columbus, Ohio) pitched three innings in relief and allowed just one unearned run on one hits. He struck out two Cleveland State hitters and recorded one walk. Junior Andrew Shisila (Mentor, Ohio) recorded the final out of the contest with runners on second and third for his second save of the season.

Senior Willie Walker (Marysville, Ohio) posted a 2-for-4 day at the plate with an RBI triple and a run scored. He has six hits in his last two games. Freshman Mark Krauss (Deshler, Ohio) also went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI singles. Junior Matt Stiffler (Bellbrook, Ohio) was 1-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored while freshman Jeremie Rehak (Pittsburgh, Pa.) went 1-for-2 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base. Designated hitter Dusty Hammond (Bellefontaine, Ohio) was off to a 1-for-2 start with an RBI and a run scored before being lifted from the game.

Brian Long took the loss for the Vikings after throwing 3.1 innings and allowing seven hits and six runs. Four of the runs were earned. Bobby Cash and Josh Geric each went 2-for-4 in the Viking loss.

The Bobcats wasted no time getting started as they scored four times in the first innings. Rehak reached on an error to open the inning in front of three consecutive extra base hits. Senior Bryant Witt (Powell, Ohio) drove Rehak in from first with a double and then scored on a triple to center by Walker. Sophomore Brandon Besl (Cincinnati, Ohio) continued the hit parade with an RBI double and Krauss finished the scoring in the inning three batters later with an RBI single for a 4-0 Bobcat lead.

Ohio tacked on two more runs in the third inning when Stiffler was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and scored two batters later on a double by Walker. After a Witt groundout moved Walker to third, Krauss came up with his second, two-out RBI single of the day to give Ohio a 6-0 advantage.

While the Bobcats were putting runs on the board, Mementowski was mowing down the Cleveland State lineup. He allowed just three hits through the first five innings without allowing a run and striking out two Vikings. He was lifted after five innings for sophomore Chris Rigo (Westlake, Ohio).

The Bobcats opened the door for the Vikings in the top of the sixth as they committed two errors with two outs in the frame. The results was four Cleveland State runs, all of them unearned, as Ohio saw its lead shrink to 6-4. Nate Radtke, Michael Babin and Geric all recorded RBI singles and the Vikings scored their final run of the inning on a passed ball.

CSU pulled within a run in the seventh, with the run again coming via the unearned variety. Westra reached on a one-out error and advanced to second on a balk before scoring on an RBI single by Cash to make the score 6-5.

The Bobcats scored two insurance runs in the bottom of the frame to regain a three-run advantage. Senior Jared Willis (Logan, W.Va.) walked to start the inning and moved to third on a booming double to center by senior Jon Vondrell (Centerville, Ohio). Besl then reached on an error to score Willis in front of a perfect bunt single by Witt to drive in Vondrell and give Ohio an 8-5 lead.

The Bobcats added a run in the eighth on a wild pitch and Shisila recorded the final out in the ninth for his second save of the season and a 9-5 Ohio victory.

Ohio will aim for its fifth straight win Wednesday when the Bobcats host West Virginia State. First pitch is slated for 4:00 p.m. at Bob Wren Stadium.